Imagine arising to bird song outside of your bedroom window on a January morning. You brew a cup of coffee from beans grown just a few miles away. You step out onto your porch. Instead of the biting cold of Northern climates, the morning temperature is cool yet inviting, no need to bundle up. You sit quietly contemplating the changing pastels of the pre dawn sky.

You sip your coffee and plan a day hiking trails on the ridges overlooking your home. You pick out one bird song from the rest; the song of the Quetzal. As you scan the tree line opposite your balcony the song pauses, a bright green bird with a long tail flies from branch to branch, and the Quetzal resumes his song. The sun peeks over the mountain tops and the valley in which you live is bathed in a golden light.

Your dream can be made real. In the Chiriquí Highlands of Western Panama is a land blessed with sun, rain, and ideal temperatures. Near the town of Bambito is a combination resort and residence development designed to make dreams come true. Casa Grande Bambito offers well designed, ecologically friendly homes in a setting of pristine nature. For information about turning your dream into reality, visit www.casagrandebambito.com.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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The world is going through a major recession. In Panama, the rate of economic growth has slowed. The foreclosure rates in the United States are staggering. In Panama, the high end of the real estate market is in pause mode waiting for next year.

Panama is waiting to hear which of the three consortia will win the bid to build the locks for the “third lane” of the Panama Canal Expansion. The Panama Canal Expansion, considered the “most significant construction project in the world”, is going forward with completion scheduled for 2014.

Much of the international focus in the last few years has been on Panama as a great place to retire. It was and it still is. The rest of the international focus was on Panama as a tourist destination or a place to own a second home. It was, for both, and it still is, for both.

What Panama corporations knew is that Panama has had the highest per capita rate of foreign investment in Latin America. Panama is beautiful tropical country with what experts refer to as a first world infrastructure.

Foreigners new to Panama are amazed by the view of the Panama City skyline from across the bay at Amador, day or night. Not only has Panama City come to resemble Miami or Singapore, but given time, it will come to challenge them.

While the world is trying to pull itself out of the recession, Panama corporations are preparing for the next stage of development and progress.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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Panama’s Thriving Middle Class Insures Long term Stability for Retirees

Germany and Spain, as well as other countries, have implemented laws that encourage the production of energy from renewable resources. Panama is taking its first steps towards alternative ‘green’ energy. Renewable energy benefits the environment and reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Most of Panama’s energy is produced from petroleum (85.4%), but future use of sources that do not aggressively impact the environment, “green power”, could provide an alternative. Among the main sources of renewable energy are wind, sun, marine power, geothermal energy and hydro power.

However, the possible introduction of renewable energy sources has been slowed by its high cost. Building a thermoelectric plant can cost 500 dollars per megawatt (MW), whereas a hydroelectric plant may cost between $1 million and $2 per 500 thousand kilowatt and $2 million per 500 thousand kilowatt. It should be noted that this hydro power generation, after construction, is much cheaper.

Water: The Source of Life

Presently, according to the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP), there are 15 hydroelectric projects  under construction. They will have an installed capacity of 597.27 MW and will be ready between the years 2010 and 2012.

According to Rafael De Gracia, Director of Electricity for AEP, “…the energy percentage must be increased, because Panama has sufficient water tributaries.” Eduardo Vallarino, President of the Panamanian Association of Renewable Energy Producers (APPER), states that “…there’s five times more water energy to be produced, than thermal energy.” However, it  should be noted that it will always be important to have some thermal production capacity to diversify energy sources.

Wind

It is feasible to generate energy from the sun or from wind. Solar panels now have a price of four dollars to produce one watt, but the international industry is making efforts to create products that will generate a watt for every dollar invested. Solar energy is encouraged in Panama through Law 45, which encourages domestic use. The law offers the elimination of taxes on imported equipment which produce up to 10 MW and a tax incentive of up to 25% in direct investment. Currently this type of generation is used in remote sites, to supply schools and health centers, a practice that could be copied elsewhere in the country to promote energy saving.

Already, a company holds a license to start construction of a wind farm. The project is developed by Enrilews S.A. in Coclé and will generate 225 MW. According to Vallarino, the force of the wind needed to generate power should be 10 meters per second (m / s) on an ongoing basis. In Panama, wind force is 25 m / s (that of a hurricane). The speed is strong enough to generate energy, but there is no evidence that gust that the wind can be relied upon. There are 27 companies registered in the ASEP to build wind farms.

A New World

A strong point in favor of investing in green energy is the economic incentives that can be generated. Mexico, Turkey and Egypt receive funds for clean technology of 50 thousand million dollars from the World Bank and regional development banks. There are also incentives for clean energy production, through the sale of carbon certificates.

Solar panels now have a price of four dollars to produce one watt, but the international industry is making efforts to create products of this type that generate a watt for every dollar invested. Solar energy is encouraged in Panama through Law 45, which allows domestic use and offers the elimination of taxes on imported equipment which produce up to 10 MW. A tax incentive of up to 25% in direct investment is also available .Currently this type of generation is used in remote sites, to supply schools and health centers, a practice that could be copied elsewhere in the country to promote energy saving.

Already, there is a company that holds the license to start construction of a wind powered farm. The project is developed by Enrilews S.A. in Coclé and will generate 225 MW. According to Vallarino, the force of the wind to generate power should be 10 meters per second (m / s) on an ongoing basis. In Panama, wind force is 25 m / s (that of a hurricane). The speed is strong enough to generate energy, but there is no evidence  the gusts of wind are sufficiently reliable. There are 27 companies registered in the ASEP to build wind farms.

A New World

A strong point in favor of generating green energy is the economic incentives that can be generated. Mexico, Turkey and Egypt receive funds for clean technology of 50 thousand million dollars from the World Bank and regional development banks. There are also incentives for clean energy production, through the sale of carbon certificates.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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In an exclusive press conference held at Panama’s luxurious Bristol Hotel, members of the media and the real estate community were informed of all the details concerning Panama’s most important real estate event of the year, Expo Inmobiliaria 2009.

The expo will feature a whole section exclusively dedicated to international real estate businesses, and will encourage international visitors to come see what Panama has to offer. Expo Inmobiliaria’s organizers will ensure that at least 1,000 potential customers come from abroad. You could be one of them.

Expo Inmobiliaria will provide a unique opportunity for real estate businesses to interact with customers, investors and colleagues. At affordable prices, anyone related to real estate can have an exhibition stand to woo the 15,000 visitors that are expected to attend Expo Inmobiliaria. From July 22^nd until the 26^th, the public will be able to attend the ATLAPA Convention Center to visit the exhibition stands, press junkets, forums, and conferences.

Expo Inmobiliaria main organizer ACOBIR (The Panamanian Association of Real Estate Brokers and Promoters) will benefit from the expert advice of International Property Networks (IPN) and Latin American Real Estate Investment Group (LAREI Group) as co-organizers. Panama’s Ministry of Housing will provide its special support to this event, especially on the subject of social interest housing.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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Beyond a glittering skyline and barrage of blueprints lie troubling signs, too. Many caution that Panama is growing too quickly, and that the benefits will not trickle down to the nation’s poor.

One result of the boom has been a dramatic rise in prices. Median apartment prices for those sold by Empresas Bern, for example, jumped from $150,000 for 1,000 square feet to $350,000 for the same space in just three years, says Mr. Bern.

Many are concerned that this will squeeze the poor even further. “I think economic growth is good, but it has to go hand in hand with some planning and some policy, so that growth does not overcome the capacity of the country to respond to people’s needs,” says Carlos Guevara-Mann, a Panamanian political analyst who teaches at the University of Nevada, Reno.

He says that the boom, while temporarily providing jobs in construction, will not trickle down to the nearly 40 percent of residents who live in poverty, and that they will be the hardest hit if it busts.

Carlos Lopez, a taxi driver, represents the two sides of changes taking place in Panama.

He is fed up most days, as traffic inches along the main waterfront avenue during rush hour. His father and brother, however, both work in construction and are seeing more employment than they have in a long time. “That’s now,” he says. “What is going to happen when it’s over? They will get rich, and our neighborhood will still be just as poor.”

One thing is for sure: The city will never be the same. “Panama has come into its own,” says Sandra Snyder, author of “Living in Panama,” whose recently published second edition reaches out to the growing number of American retirees moving to Panama City and the beaches and mountains throughout the country.

The impacts are both imperceptible and as obvious as they come. On one recent day, Ms. Snyder sat on her porch, with a sweeping view of the bay, counting 25 new buildings since she and her husband moved into their apartment five years ago. “No,” she says, pointing to a high-rise she missed. “Twenty-six.”

But at least she can keep count still – for now.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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The economic indicators seem to back up their enthusiasm. Panama grew by 8 percent last year, one of the highest rates in the region. In 2006, new foreign direct investment doubled from the year before. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, it represented 16 percent of GDP in 2006, double that of any other country in the region.

The expansion of the canal will create tens of thousands of jobs and contribute $1.5 billion to the nation’s treasury by its completion in 2015.

The nation’s airline, Copa Airlines, is marketing itself as an alternative to Miami for travel throughout Latin America. Multinational firms such as Caterpillar Inc. have moved or are moving their Latin American operations to Panama.

“Today it’s probably the Switzerland of Central America. It has a stable, democratic government that is passionate about business,” says Ian Livingstone, managing director of British firm London & Regional, which is managing the 3,500-acre Air Force base project outside Panama City that is to be a self-sustaining city.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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Panama City – The hilltop view overlooking the former Howard US Air Force Base in Panama says it all.

The vacant barracks will be the site of a $10 billion mini-city slated to be the size of Central London. Just beyond the hills, the Panama Canal is undergoing a $5 billion expansion, and in the background cranes hang over new skyscrapers that seem to rise every week.

Panama, it seems, is in its prime.

Once overlooked as nothing but a canal, this tiny Central American nation of 3 million is attracting residents, businesses, and investors the world over. Some are seeking a haven from political situations in the region. Others are jumping on what they see as one of the best investments around. But as the government markets itself as the Latin American lodestone, many caution that the city is growing too quickly out of its own infrastructure.

“We are the geographic hub of the Americas,” says Ivan Carlucci, the president of the Panamanian Association of Real Estate Brokers and Developers, adding that 11,000 new units will come online this year. He boasts that 99 percent have already sold. Some say that speculators have fueled the boom, but Mr. Carlucci says he expects the real-estate market to maintain its momentum because of other large infrastructure and industrial projects throughout the country. “We will be sustained by all the other aspects.”

The most visible changes to Panama City are the homes rising for new residents. According to the Ministry of Housing, nearly 400 projects are under construction, with permits, or awaiting approval. “This is extraordinary, we’ve never seen this before,” says José Batista, the director of urban planning in the Ministry of Housing.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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One of the most common questions I get – “Is Panama a safe country?”

Yes, without a doubt. In fact Panama has been ranked one of the safest tourist destinations in the world right along side Canada and the United States.

Some Personal Experiences
Let me give you some personal examples and then let me give you some additional reasons why I believe Panama is so safe.

For some time we lived near the village of Boquete Panama in the Chiriqui Highlands region. It was a daily scene – young children and young women walking many miles to work or school. My wife and I are exercise addicts and you might recall from my ‘Letters from Panama’ that we were in the health club business. At that time there were no health clubs in Boquete Panama so I purchased a used mountain bike. I just found one so my wife and I had to share. Each morning I would go out around 6am and then about 7am my wife would go. She would cycle through town and out of Boquete town on the quiet winding country roads for about 10 km. Not once did she feel unsafe. Another example, at the time my boys were just 11 & 9. They would walk out to the road and grab one of the local taxis, pay 25c each and get a lift into Boquete where they would buy 25c ice cream. Honestly, I would not have had that much comfort and trust back in our home town in Ontario Canada. In fact I wouldn’t have done it there.

So what makes Panama so safe?

First, I believe we need to look back at Panama history. Panama is a peaceful republic and for most of the past century has been under the watchful eye of the United States. Today’s Panama was born of a multi-culture mix of peoples from around the world thanks to the Panama Canal. To this day the people debate “Who is the true Panamanian?” Most agree that the 7 indigenous tribes probably have the best claim. For the rest they are all immigrants of one sort or another. As a result it is difficult to tell the Panamanians from the visitors. You may see someone who looks very much like an American, a Canadian, maybe they are from India or China – the reality is they could all be Spanish speaking 2nd or 3rd generation Panamanians. Because of the multicultural mix of the country it is easy to blend in – to make sure you don’t stand out as a foreigner – or different. So, when you or I arrive in Panama you are immediately accepted – we tend to blend in.

Panama Currency

Panama adopted the US dollar as it currency many years ago. This contributes to safety as well. Often when traveling in foreign countries we are taught to keep our dollars out of sight – it’s just too tempting to the locals. In a country where the local currency may be devalued, the US dollar has a certain allure. But in Panama everyone is using the same money be they a farmer, banker or tourist.

Panama Weather

Another Safety issue many investors fail to consider is the Panama Weather. In recent years hurricanes throughout the southern US and most of Latin America have brought this issue to the forefront. As you saw in my last ‘Letter about Safety’, Panama lies in a unique region where violent weather is almost unheard of and it is the only Latin American country which is Hurricane Free – that’s right, records dating back to 1851 show that Panama is in a safe zone where hurricanes never hit. As investors from Florida to Texas can attest rising insurance rates can take a dramatic bite out of your return. In Panama your vacation and your investment will never get blown away!

It’s also very safe to buy Real Estate in Panama

Foreigners, whether residents or non-residents, enjoy the same rights and privileges when purchasing and selling real property as do Panamanian citizens. Foreign investors are given a 10-year stability guarantee that all legal, tax, customs, municipal and labor rules will remain identical to those in force at the time of the investment registration. Law # 54: Foreign Investor Protection Law provides these guarantees The U.S. Embassy publishes the U.S. Government Report on Buying Panama Real Estate and says, “Titled land, and the process of buying this, is similar in concept to that in the U.S., and land and deeds are duly recorded with the Public Registry”.

Buying real property in Panama is so safe that major U.S. Title Insurance companies like like Land America Title provide low cost policies in Panama.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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Donald Trump is preparing to develop a 62 story hotel and apartment tower in the Punta Pacifica district of Panama City, Panama. Trump Ocean Club International will offer 300 hotel rooms, 500 luxury apartments, a casino, a full service spa, a yacht club, and a private beach on Isla Contadora. Panama property investment is getting pretty wild.

The project is expected to cost around $200 million and with construction slated for the end of the year should be completed by 2009. Units are going for $250,000 to $450,000 for one to three bedroom condominium units and furnished hotel condominium properties will cost around $250,000. This is the first time that the Trump Organization has invested in Central America.

But why is Trump Investing in Panama? Trump said his interest in Panama property investment began 3 years ago when he was in Panama City for the Miss Universe Pageant. It’s no surprise anymore that Americans are flocking to Panama. Low interest rates, political stability, a low cost of living, and the country’s location beyond typical hurricane paths all make Panama a great place to live. Baby boomers in particular are finding Panama an attractive destination.

Panama offers a good combination of air service from major cities, proximity to key source markets and coastal sites. These things should pique any developer’s interest. But there are four things Trump specifically looks for when he puts up a building. They are great views, prestige, convenience, and growth potential.

First, Punta Pacifica juts out into the ocean and therefore has some of the best views in Panama City and second, because of this it has a lot prestige. Third, its closeness to high-end malls, banks, and grocery stores make Punta Pacifica very convenient. And last, any real estate acquisition by Trump must have growth potential or else he won’t be interested.

The important questions to be answered are: Will this investment keep up with the changing times? Will rents keep up with inflation? And is this area stable, getting better or deteriorating? Apparently Panama has answered all of these questions satisfactorily. Because of this, Trump believes in Panama’s growth. This should only further encourage potential investors to take a closer look at Panama property investment.

For more information about investing in Panama real estate contact one of our experts today.

To discover new real estate opportunities in Panama, send us an email today at Panama Real Estate.com.

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